Bulls openside flank Deon Stegmann has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on Conrad Smith.

Stegmann pleaded guilty before the Sanzar judical officer Peter Hobbs at the New Zealand Rugby Union’s offices in Wellington on Saturday. He will be replaced in the squad by Namibian international Jacques Burger.

The suspension is a massive blow for the Bulls as Stegmann has been a consistently good performer. He misses matches against the Highlanders, Crusaders and Waratahs.

Stegmann’s place in the starting line-up is likely to be taken by Dewald Potgieter.